How-to Guide: Changing Your Device on AT&T

Why Would You Want to Change Your Phone on AT&T?

There are several reasons why you might want to change your phone while staying with AT&T. One common reason is the end of your device’s leasing period. Many customers choose to lease a phone from their service provider for a set period, usually one or two years. At the end of this period, they have the option to buy the device or trade it in for a newer model.

If you’re someone who always wants the latest technology, getting a new phone will be an attractive option. For instance, you might decide to trade-in your iPhone 12 to upgrade to the iPhone 15.

Another reason to switch phones is if your current device isn’t performing as well as it used to. Over time, all phones will start to show signs of wear and tear. If you’re experiencing slow loading times or a less responsive touchscreen, it might be time to upgrade to a newer model.

Finally, you might want to switch to a phone with a different operating system. It’s not uncommon for people to sell their Samsung phones to switch to iPhones, or vice versa.

Checking the Compatibility of Your New Phone

Before you can switch phones, you need to ensure that your new phone is compatible with the AT&T network. This is usually straightforward if you have an iPhone or a Samsung device. However, if you have a less common brand like Huawei or Xiaomi, you might encounter some compatibility issues.

To check compatibility, you can visit the AT&T website and enter your phone’s model and make. Alternatively, you can contact AT&T directly by phone, through Live Chat, or by visiting one of their stores.

Using the AT&T Mobile Transfer App

Transferring all your contacts, music, files, and message threads from your old phone to your new one is a crucial part of switching phones. To make this process as easy as possible, AT&T has developed a mobile transfer app.

To use the app, both your old and new phones need to be connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network. You should then download the free AT&T Mobile Transfer App onto both devices. Once the app is installed, you can follow the prompts to transfer all your data from your old phone to your new one.

What If You’re Switching from a Lost or Broken Phone?

If your old phone was lost, stolen, or broken, don’t worry – AT&T has procedures in place to help you switch to a new device.

If your phone is broken, you’ll need to remove the SIM card, which should still contain all your unique information unless the phone was damaged by water or something similar. You can remove the SIM card using a straightened paperclip or a special SIM card removal tool.

Once you’ve removed the SIM card, you can either insert it into your new phone or use an SD card reader to transfer the data to a computer. From there, you can transfer the data to your new phone using a USB cable.

If your phone was lost or stolen, your first step should be to try and locate it using services like Find My iPhone. If you can’t locate the device, you’ll need to check whether you have a recent backup of your old phone. Depending on the type of phone you had, you might have used iCloud, iTunes, or Google Drive to back up your data.

Once you’ve transferred your data to your new phone, either using the AT&T Mobile Transfer App or via your SIM card or a backup, your new phone should be ready to use. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to visit an AT&T store for assistance.